Eva Denece Harpin, 88 of Ashland, NE, died on Friday, March 20, 2015 at Oxbow Living Center in Ashland. She was born April 23, 1926 in Eagle, NE to Jesse W. and Grace (Bosworth) Jones. Denece graduated from Ashland High School in 1943 and later received a degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University. On June 14, 1958, she was married to Carl Harpin.

Denece taught rural schools for 24 years. In Denece’s many years as a rural school teacher in addition to teaching she educated through organized annual field trips and a highlight each year was attending the Shrine Circus. One thing that gave Denece great pleasure was putting together and directing the variety shows each year at Christmas time.  Being a school teacher she loved history. Over the years she enjoyed many trips visiting historical places in Nebraska and around the United States.

She was an avid reader her whole life and especially enjoyed the Nebraska authors Bess Streeter Aldrich and Willa Cather.
Following her teaching career, she worked as a cashier at the Greenwood truck stop for 30 years.

Denece was a member of the Ashland United Methodist Church where she was active in the United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the Ashland Garden Club where she served as president for many years. She was crowned the Ashland Stir- Up Queen on July 6, 2001.

Denece worked every day on crossword and jigsaw puzzles keeping her mind sharp for her occasional scrabble games with family. She had a great love for her plants, sewing and watching the birds. She tracked a number of sporting events and was a fan of the Chicago Cubs.

She is survived by daughters, Nancy Hamann of Lincoln and Kay (Geoff) Marti of Lincoln; sons, Wayne Harpin of Ashland, David Harpin of Omaha, Gregg (Amy) Harpin of Victoria, TX, and Jim Harpin of Oklahoma City, OK, daughter-in-law, Connie Landon of Lancaster, WI. ; 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Carl Harpin; brothers, Elwin, Arnold and Jesse Jones; sister, Ann Holtgrewe and granddaughter Trisha Washburn.